Tyson Beckford reviews Aprilia RSV4

By

tyson

Crossplane-crank Yamaha R1-rider Tyson Beckford dropped by our place in Hollywood yesterday and ended up taking the Aprilia RSV4 R for a quick spin. What’d he think? Well, he plans on keeping his R1 for riding on the road, but the track might be a different matter.

Editor’s note: Aprilia actually has excellent part support, that’s a negative perception leftover from the time before Piaggio bought them.

  • Miticale

    Overall I’m on the same page as tyson, however the few quirks he mentions could be quoted about regarding anything stock. Suspension internals + double bubble windscreen + new master cylinder + fender eliminator + Slip on / full w/ matching race ECU = giving the R1 a definite run.

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Grant Ray

      Agreed. Also, the steering is not as neural at slower speeds on this RSV4 compared to the bikes we’ve ridden previously in New York and Mugello.

  • Skank NYCF

    Nice. Wish I could get few of these new bikes to take out for a test ride.

    • http://www.youtube.com/user/Adeysworld adeysworld

      This time of the year, you’ll be reviewing snow mobiles.lol

  • http://greatjoballweek.blogspot.com/ Case

    Highlight: “I could catch you when I wanted too, but it wasn’t… ”

    “No he couldn’t.”

    I laughed. // Did the bike get too hot? I heard it cooks your ass and legs, which is a further argument for a track bike. Looks like cool weather, so maybe not a huge issue today. But on a hot day? I heard it’s brutal unless you’re at speed.

    • Miticale

      There is some engine heat, but nothing to the point that I’ve found myself being curious as to whether something was wrong with the bike.

    • http://www.youtube.com/user/Adeysworld adeysworld

      I rode the bike on 80 degree day and didn’t notice any unbearable heat coming from it.

    • http://pinkyracer.com pinkyracer

      Same problem with my R1′s, both 04 & 09. Literally COOKS the flesh on my legs. I need nomex, not just cordura! Granted, that’s when I’m being a squid and lanesplitting across town in jeans. Leather makes a better insulator.

  • ike6116

    I had no idea Tyson was a motorcyclist. I thought he was just a male model or whatever.

    • Miticale

      had the pleasure of meeting him w/ his R1, also had (not sure if still does) an Aprilia SXV 550. Down to earth guy, good friends with Mr. Spies.

      • JOHN

        Saw him at the Bike show in NYC in January.He was keeping all the ladies happy signing autographs so we could spend more time checking out the bikes.Thanks Tyson we owe you one!

  • Myles

    Weird portrait video.

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

      Yeah, should have micro managed Adey on that.

      • Andy Keech

        i kinda liked it, thought it was neat.

  • http://www.pedalgents.com holdingfast

    good stuff! maybe you can get more famous motorcyclist to share their opinions? i.e. tom cruise? haha.
    also: which one of you two talks quite a good white-man-hood-twang?
    ;)

    • http://www.youtube.com/user/Adeysworld adeysworld

      Haha that was me filming.LOL
      That was my Eddie Murphy “we’re not gonna fall for the banana in the tail pipe trick again” voice. ;P

    • ike6116

      I made the same observation but kept it to twitter, didn’t want to blow up spot na’mean?

  • http://www.thisblueheaven.com Mark D

    Is that Tyson’s yellow and black R1 in the top photo?

    That might be the only bike sexier than him!

    • brutus

      …..

    • http://www.youtube.com/user/Adeysworld adeysworld

      Suspect…

      • http://www.thisblueheaven.com Mark D

        Hmmm, I could have phrased that less, ummm…gayballs.

        I gotta stop drinking at lunch.

        • http://pinkyracer.com pinkyracer

          hahaha. yeah. that is one of the hottest looking post 08 R1′s I’ve seen. But if I had the opportunity to choose, it’d be Tyson. I can do my R1 any day.

  • Coreyvwc

    Interesting comparo. The RSV4R is pretty much everything the R1 is not, and vice versa. Although the Aprillia is unquestionably the better bike. Sorry, the R1 is old tech old news…

  • http://www.desmoworks.com desmoworks

    Those are lovely trash cans in the background!

  • Nick

    So do you guys have a satellite office in LA now? :)

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

      We’re out here for February, but I’m going to move soon.

  • Dan

    Isnt there a guy who rides in Malibu on an R1 with Rossi-rep helmet and gloves? I’d have to laugh if it turns out to be the same guy, but I guess we’re all the same when dressed like power rangers.

    • http://www.youtube.com/user/Adeysworld adeysworld

      Tyson is riding in my gear. He didn’t come out to LA to ride, but for business. So I lent him everything to make his ride as safe as possible without squiding it up. It sounds like you’re talking about my friend Max, Rossi helmet with the gloves holding head and Rossi rep gloves on custom black R1 with blue trim.